One Hardline Change And Crime Starts Falling Almost Overnight

San Francisco drastically reduced issues they were having on public transit by making it almost impossible to enter without paying, according to a report from The Atlantic.

The outlet noted that last August, BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) installed six-foot-tall saloon-style doors made of plexiglass with metal frames that were much harder to get through compared to regular turnstiles that could easily be jumped. This change is expected to increase revenue by $10 million per year as riders are forced to actually pay to ride. 

But beyond generating more income, it’s also led to a decrease in issues that used to plague the subway. Overall crime on BART plunged 41% in 2025 compared to the previous year, with violent crime down 31% and property crime down 43%.

“Safety is about more than enforcement. It’s about presence, partnership, and creating an environment where all riders feel comfortable using BART,” said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin of the massive change. 

“BART PD is committed to deterring criminal activity, responding quickly when help is needed, and ensuring riders feel safe throughout their journeys. These numbers demonstrate the impact of officers who are engaged and focused on building trust with the communities BART serves.”

BART PD also doubled the number of officers in the system and made sure that they were frequently riding the trains. 

This wasn’t the first time BART tried to curtail fare jumpers, but it was a different world in 2019 when they introduced “inverted guillotine” gates, which at the time were dubbed “anti-poor, anti-homeless, and ableist” by activists.

There was also a push against “fare checks” — essentially people dispatched to verify tickets — which were dubbed ineffective by critics, said to “disproportionately affect people of color and the homeless,” and found to recover only “minimal revenue.”

These new jump-proof gates make fare checks unnecessary, and complaints of racist enforcement policies are a non-issue since those people haven’t gained access in the first place. 

“We had pressure on us that interaction between police and the public, because of fare evasion, could lead to racial profiling,” BART communications officer Alicia Trost told The Atlantic. “Once the fare gates were in place, we’re limiting those interactions. It’s not discretionary; there’s less enforcement.”

These efforts stand in sharp contrast to efforts being made by New York’s new Muslim socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, whose stated goal is to make city buses free for everyone.